Device and method for sheathing a lock of hair

ABSTRACT

In order to be able to sheath a lock of hair ( 5 ) using a hose ( 1 ) in a simple and easy to manipulate manner, a device is proposed comprising a sleeve ( 2 ), a deformable hose ( 1 ) that can be placed on the sleeve ( 2 ), and a gripper element ( 8 ), which can be guided through the sleeve ( 2 ) and is longer than the sleeve ( 2 ), the gripper element ( 8 ) having a hook ( 4 ) on one end for grasping a lock of hair ( 5 ) and a handle ( 3 ) on the other end for manually holding the gripper element ( 8 ). In order to apply a hose ( 1 ) to a lock of hair ( 5 ), the hose ( 1 ) is first pulled in cylindrical form over the sleeve ( 2 ). Then the lock of hair ( 5 ) is grasped using the hook ( 4 ) and pulled through the sleeve ( 2 ). Then the sleeve ( 2 ) and the gripper element ( 8 ) are detached from the lock of hair ( 5 ) and pulled out of the hose ( 1 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the application relates to hairdressers or hairdresser salons and in particular to the area of treating locks of hair, as well as perming and coloring or toning hair.

BACKGROUND

It is known that locks of hair are first separated and then provided with a sheath in order to expose them to a hair treatment agent within the sheath. Thus, individual locks of hair, for example, are each laid on a separate aluminum foil, wetted with a hair coloring and finally covered by the aluminum foil. The aluminum foils then remain for a specified time as a sheath on the locks of hair in order not to get hair coloring on the remaining hair.

It is known from European Patent Application 1 168 940 B1 that a hose is applied to a lock of hair. A gripper element with a hook is used in this context to grip within the hose. The hose is designed as elastic pre-tensioned tube which can be brought into a wavy shape. The hose is designed as a lattice in order to apply a permanent wave agent to the lock of hair through slots in the hose.

The known devices and methods have the disadvantage that a lock of hair is not easy to pull into a hose.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution for this disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed device is used to sheath a lock of hair using a hose and comprises a sleeve, a deformable hose that slips onto the sleeve and a gripper element that can be guided through the sleeve and is longer than the sleeve, the gripper element having on one side of the sleeve a hook for grasping a lock of hair and on the other side of the sleeve a handle for manually holding the gripper element.

In the proposed method for sheathing a lock of hair using a hose, the hose of the device is first pulled in cylindrical form over the sleeve. Then a lock of hair is grasped with the hook and pulled through the sleeve. Then the sleeve and the gripper element are removed from the lock of hair.

The invention has the advantage that a hose can reliably and easily be pulled over a lock of hair.

The sleeve is used to hold the hose. It can be stretched over the sleeve or simply held by the sleeve. The gripper element is moved through the sleeve. If a lock of hair is grasped by the hook, the gripper element is grasped on its handle opposite the hook and the lock of hair is pulled through the sleeve. Thereafter the sleeve and the gripper element are removed from the hose, the lock of hair releasing from the hook. The lock of hair surrounded by the hose can then, depending on the type of hose, be provided in different ways with a hair treatment agent.

If the hose is designed as elastic, pre-tensioned, twistable tubing, this pre-tensioning on the one hand allows a cylindrical tubular shape in which the hose is stretched onto the sleeve. On the other hand, a slight torque applied to the hose is sufficient to bring it into a twisted form. As a result, a lock of hair contained therein is likewise twisted, e.g., coiled. A permanent wave agent applied to the lock of hair then imparts a permanent wave to the lock of hair. In particular, a spiral shape impressed in the hose is suitable for a relatively natural wave. The permanent wave agent may be applied via a plurality of slots in the hose into its interior and, thus, to a lock of hair. In this context a lattice-like hose form is suitable for an even application of the permanent wave agent.

On the other hand, if the hose has an impermeable outer surface, it is suitable for both a permanent wave agent and for a hair coloring. The impermeable hose sheath prevents hair adjacent to the locks of hair to be colored from being covered with the agent.

An easy manipulation of the proposed device is achieved if the hose, after removal of the gripper element and the sleeve, is first manipulated into a spiral shape and lastly a permanent wave agent is applied to the lock of hair through the slots.

Another easy method for using the device is achieved if the hose is placed on the sleeve in a cylindrical, gathered form and, after detachment of the gripper element and the hair lock and preferably an application of a permanent wave agent or a hair dye, the hose is ungathered and in so doing pulled over the lock of hair.

In order to easily remove the sleeve as well when the gripper element is removed from a lock of hair, it is proposed that a stop be provided on an inner surface of the sleeve, against which a stopping element joined to the gripper element acts in order to be able to entrain the sleeve when the gripper element is detached from the lock of hair and pull it out of the hose.

The hose can be attached to the lock of hair via a clamping element.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to Figures that depict exemplary embodiments. The following is shown:

FIG. 1 a grasping of a lock of hair using a hook of a gripper element, a sleeve opening up a hose provided with slots and the gripper element being guided through the sleeve;

FIG. 2 the article of FIG. 1, but with the gripper element, which pulls the sleeve out of the hose, somewhat detached from the hose;

FIG. 3 the article of FIG. 2, but with the gripper element and entrained sleeve completely removed, the lock of hair put through the hose, which was brought into a spiral shape;

FIG. 4 in a second exemplary embodiment, a gathered hose, which is applied to a lock of hair via a device according to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 the article of FIG. 4, but with the hose ungathered and with two clamping elements for clamping the hose to the lock of hair.

A device for sheathing a lock of hair 5 using a hose 1 comprises a sleeve 2, a deformable hose 1 that can be placed on the sleeve 2 and a gripper element 8, which can be guided through sleeve 2 and is longer than sleeve 2 (FIG. 1). Gripper element 8 has a hook 4 on one end for grasping a lock of hair 5 and a handle 3 on the other end for manually holding the gripper element 8.

The hose 1 is designed as elastic, twistable tubing and is prevented by sleeve 2 from ending up in a spiral shape. The hose 1 was stretched in cylindrical form onto the sleeve 2. It has a plurality of slots 10. A lock of hair 5 is grasped using hook 4 and pulled through sleeve 2. Next, sleeve 2 and gripper element 8 are detached from the lock of hair 5, hose 1 being manually held in place (FIG. 2). Provided on the inner surface of sleeve 2 is a stop 7, against which a stopping element 6 connected to a gripper element 8 acts in order to be able to entrain a sleeve 2 and pull it out of the hose 1 when the gripper element 8 is detached from a lock of hair 5.

After removal of the gripper element 8 and sleeve 2, the hose elastically goes back into a spiral shape and remains in this shape on the selected lock of hair 5 (FIG. 3). Finally, a permanent wave agent is applied to the lock of hair 5 through slots 10, in order to apply a permanent wave to them.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, a hose 1 having an impermeable outer surface is used for coloring a lock of hair 5. In this context, the hose 1 is first applied in cylindrical, gathered form to sleeve 2 of a device according to FIG. 1. After the detachment of the gripper element 8 and the lock of hair 5 as well as an application of a hair dye, hose 1 is ungathered and in the process pulled over the lock of hair 5. By gathering hose 1 at the hair root, the latter is also dyed. Then hose 1 is ungathered again and affixed on lock of hair 5 using two clamping elements such as barrettes 9.

In another embodiment, predetermined breaking points could be provided in a hose having an impermeable outer surface. An undyed lock of hair could be partially dyed by breaking through the predetermined breaking points and applying this agent through the slots made in this way via a tubular application device that dispenses a hair dye. Of a plurality of perforated predetermined breaking points, only as many are broken as is advantageous for appropriate coloring results.

List of Reference Characters

1 Hose

2 Sleeve

3 Handle

4 Hook

5 Lock of hair

6 Stopping element

7 Stop

8 Gripper element

9 Clamping element

10 Slot

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A device for sheathing a lock of hair comprising a sleeve, a deformable hose that can be placed on the sleeve, and a gripper element, which can be guided through the sleeve and is longer than the sleeve, the gripper element having a hook on one side of the sleeve for grasping a lock of hair and a handle on the other side of the sleeve for manually grasping the gripper element.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable hose is an elastic, pre-tensioned, twistable tubing.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable hose comprises a plurality of slots and is designed as a lattice.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable hose comprises an impermeable outer surface.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein on the inner surface of the sleeve a stop is provided, against which a stopping element joined to the gripper element acts in order to entrain the sleeve and pull it out of the deformable hose when the gripper element is detached from a lock of hair.
 6. A method for sheathing a lock of hair using the hose of the device described in claim 1, wherein said hose is first pulled in cylindrical form over the sleeve, then a lock of hair is grasped using a hook and pulled through the sleeve and the gripper element then is detached from the lock of hair.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein after the detachment of the gripper element and the sleeve, the hose is manipulated into a spiral shape and a permanent wave agent is applied to the lock of hair through the slots.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the hose is first applied in cylindrical, gathered form to the sleeve and, after detachment of the gripper element and the lock of hair and an application of a permanent wave agent or a hair dye, the hose is ungathered and pulled over the lock of hair.
 9. The method according to claims 6, wherein the hose is attached via at least one clamping element to the lock of hair. 